Bracket for scaffolds.



H. G. WBRTZ.

BRACKET FOR SCAFFOLDS.

APPLICATION FILED Jtmnzo, 1910.

Patented 001;.4, 1910.

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HARVEY C. WERTZ, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. H.GRESHNER, OF ASHLAND, OHIO.

BRACKET FOR SCAFFOLDS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARV Y C. 1mm, citizen of the United States,residing at Ashland, in the county of Ashland and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Brackets for Scatfolds,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to brackets adapted to be used by slaters andothers in roofing and as a scaffold support for carpenters, painters andothers, as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thebracket open, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the locking partsthereof enlarged and partially sectioned.

As above indicated, the device shown consists essentially in what mightbe termed a builders bracket, the same being intended especially for theuse of carpenters in their scaffolding at the side of a building underconstruction by slaters or shinglers on the roof and by painters inoutside work es pecially, but the device is not intended to be limitedeven to these comparatively large fields of usefulness and may haveother adaptations not mentioned herein nor apparent at this time.Structurally the said bracket consists in two corresponding or similarsupporting members A, adapted to be engaged with the side of a buildingif used for a scaffold, or upon the roof if used for shingling, a singlebrace rod or bar B pivoted between the lower ends of said mem here on aconnecting bolt 2 and connected with each of said members near theirupper ends by cross-rods or bars C.

In detail each supporting member A preferably made from a fiat stiffmetallic bar of suitable length and provided with one or more key holes3 at its upper end, or the equivalent of such holes for engaging thebars upon nails or spikes driven into the building for this purpose,while their lower ends are twisted a quarter turn so as to present twosubstantially flat opposite sides 4 for engagement by bolt 2 throughholes therein. The extremity 5 of each bar 01' twisted end 41 issharpened and bent inward somewhat to form an engaging spur or toothadapted to penetrate the timber or wood upon Which the bracket rests andconstitute Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 20, 1910.

Patented Oct. 4, 19M).

Serial No. 567,785.

a supporting means therefor in conjunction with said nails or spikes.The brace B is pivotally engaged at its lower end on said bolt 2 betweensaid flat sides 4 and to fold between said bars A when the whole deviceis folded for shipping or to lay aside. Suitable clips (3 are fixed onsaid bars A near their upper ends and between holes 3 in this instance,and the said cross pieces C are pivotally mounted in said clips andadapted to fold fiat upon the said bars A when the device is folded, butin use said pieces are adjustably engaged with inclined brace B by meansof a locking part or device D.

As to this device I may say that the form thereof shown is the preferredform rather than the only and exclusive one, as I have tried severaldifferent constructions for this purpose with more or less satisfactoryresults. This will be understood when it is seen that the function ofthis part is to afford adjustment of the cross supporting pieces C onbrace B and to automatically lock itself in any given position by themore weight of said cross pieces thereon. This is obvious from theconstruction and arrangement of the parts shown, because the hole insaid device I) is just large enough to slide comfortably upon said braceand its end is twisted and turned a quarter around and pivoted on bolt 7between the loose meeting ends of said cross pieces. Evidently thisconstruction and arrangen'ient with the pivots provided here and therewill allow the device I) to be freely moved up and down on brace B byhand to any desired elevation, and said device will as evidently belocked on said brace the instant the pivoted end thereof betweencross-pieces C is depressed, and the greater the weight on these barsthe tighter the lock on said brace. I might of course use a pin here andthere through said brace beneath said device but it is not need ed, andthis part of my invention comprises broadly an adjusting and automaticlocking device in relation with said brace B ant cross pieces G adaptedto serve the function and to operate after the manner of the particularform thereof herein shown and described. The clips 6 are riveted orotherwise firmly fixed upon bars A, and the entire device is bothknock-down and foldable, and for scaffolding purposes requires noadditional support of any kind. The planks for the men to stand upon cantherefore be laid immediately across the supporting bars 0 and thescaffold is finished.

In Fig. l the arrows 8 indicate the direction in which bars A may bemoved at their free ends to accommodate various conditions met with inthe construction of houses, such as difference in distances betweenuprights or the usual risers forming the wall of the building. Arrows 9indicate the direction of adjustment of locking part D in brace B, thecrosspieces C necessarily having a swinging movement by -reason of theirpivoted connection with bars A. Arrows 10. indicate the direction ofmovement of brace 13. At the joint connections are free and loose toaccommodate the spreading of the folding movements between the parts andwhich are not only a material advantage in permitting the device to beadjusted to meet varying conditions when used as a scaffold, but alsopermit the device to be folded in a small compass with the brace 13,cross-pieces C and bars A in a substantially parallel plane and closelyassembled. lVhen folded together in this manner locking part D isdisconnected from brace B and which is permissible because said partsare jointed as shown to slip said part D over and apart from the freeend of brace 13. This bracket is not only serviceable for a side wallscaffold, but may be as conveniently applied and used as a roof bracketto provide a scaffold shiugling and so forth.

hat I claim is:

1. As anew article of manufacture, a bracket adapted to be used inscaffolds and on roofs consisting of two corresponding membersconstructed to be temporarily engaged in working position, a singlebrace pivoted between said members and supporting cross pieces pivotedon said members at one end and pivotally and adjustably engaged withsaid brace at their other ends.

2. A bracket for scaffolds and the like comprising two main bars, abrace pivoted between the lower ends of said bars and two cross piecespivoted to the upper ends thereof, and a device connecting the outerends of said cross-pieces slidably mounted on said brace.

3. A bracket adapted to be used by slaters, carpenters and others aboutbuildings having two main bars constructed at their ends to be fixed inworking position, a cross-piece connected to the upper end of each barand a brace pivoted between the lower ends of said bars, and a devicepivotally mounted on the outer ends of said cross pieces and constructedto slide and automatically lock on said brace.

4. The bracket described having two supporting bars constructed at theirupper ends with slots for nails or spikes and having sharpened engagingpoints at their lower ends, a clip on each bar and cross pieces pivotedin said clips, a brace pivoted between the lower ends of said supportingbars and a device pivoted on the outer ends of said cross-pieces andconstructed to slide and lock on said brace.

5. A scaffold bracket consisting of a pair of bars and a brace memberpivotally united to permit spreading and folding of each of said partsin difierent directions and crosspieces connecting the free ends of saidparts.

6. A scaffold bracket comprising two main bars and a brace pivotallyunited at their lower ends with a free connection to provide a more orless universal joint and a crosspiece pivotally united with the upperend of each bar and having a locking device adjusta-bly engaged with theupper end of said brace.

7. A scali'old bracket consisting of two bars and a brace pivotallyunited, and a pair of cross-pieces pivotally and adjustably con nectingthe free ends of said bars and brace, said parts having free engagingconnections adapting all of them to assume different angular positionsrelatively to one another.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY C. lVERTZ.

\Vitnesses:

J. C. SLoAN, M. W'. MCCREADY.

